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The Church celebrates the mystery of her Lord "until he comes," when
God will be "everything to everyone."53 Since the apostolic
age the liturgy has been drawn toward its goal by the Spirit's groaning in the
Church: Marana tha!54 The liturgy thus shares in Jesus' desire: "I
have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you . . . until it is
fulfilled in the kingdom of God."55 In the sacraments of Christ
the Church already receives the guarantee of her inheritance and even now
shares in everlasting life, while "awaiting our blessed hope, the
appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Christ
Jesus."56 The "Spirit and the Bride say, 'Come . . . Come, Lord Jesus!"'57

St. Thomas sums up the various
aspects of sacramental signs: "Therefore a sacrament is a sign that commemorates
what precedes it - Christ's Passion; demonstrates what is accomplished in us
through Christ's Passion - grace; and prefigures what that Passion pledges to
us - future glory."58